Feral abacus
The Brotherhood of St Laurence reveals that the official ABS unemployment figures released today - which showed a steady 5.1 jobless rate - are a bunch of crapola.
Its director Tony Nicholson says the current definition that one hour's work a week equals employment skewed the official rate. [One hour's work a week! What's that, a milkshake and a sanga?]
He says the 5.1 jobless rate DOUBLES when it includes underemployed workers and discouraged job seekers.
The crazy thing is it will be these cooked job figures that will convince the Reserve Bank to hike up interest rates - something the government assured voters/suckers at the last election would definitely happen under a Labor government. So what's its priority now, jobs or rates?
posted by Artemus @ 4:33 pm
3 comments
3 Comments:
The Brotherhood are contantly pointing this out. The press peddle the myth of almost full employment. Costello gloats and is never taken to task. Actually I reckon even The brotherhood are underestimating. Part of the softening up process for a renewed poor bash by the most deserving rich.
I suppose there are two things there: the lack of wage parity in this country means you can have someone slinging burgers 50hrs a week but still not meeting a basic standard of living, esp in Sydney. And I'm guessing that that single hour, where it's supplementing the joke they call unemployment benefits, constitutes 'employed' on the books.
Ron, the ALP will not confront the rubbery figures because they probably introduced them. The press have generally given up ,except for a small few on the ABC. Recommend to all, Background Briefing on Radio National(Tues 7.10 pm. 15\02\05) It is titled "Out of Work and Out of Sight". Love to hear what people think about it.
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